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It Starts with the Egg: How the Science of Egg Quality Can Help You Get Pregnant Naturally, Prevent Miscarriage, and Improve Your Odds in IVF
* THIS IS THE 2019 EDITION. FOR THE 2023 EDITION, SEARCH FOR "IT STARTS WITH THE EGG THIRD EDITION"
YOU ARE CURRENTLY VIEWING THE OLD EDITION
A practical and evidence-backed approach for improving egg quality and fertility.
The latest scientific research reveals that egg quality has a powerful impact on how long it takes to get pregnant and the risk of miscarriage. Poor egg quality is in fact the single most common cause of age-related infertility, recurrent miscarriage, and failed IVF cycles.
Based on a vast array of scientific research, It Starts with the Egg provides a comprehensive program for improving egg quality in three months, with specific advice tailored to a variety of fertility challenges— including endometriosis, unexplained infertility, diminished ovarian reserve, PCOS, and recurrent miscarriage.
With concrete strategies such as minimizing exposure to common environmental toxins, choosing the right vitamins and supplements to safeguard developing eggs, and harnessing nutritional advice shown to boost IVF success rates, this book offers practical solutions that will help you get pregnant faster and deliver a healthy baby.
YOU ARE CURRENTLY VIEWING THE OLD EDITION
A practical and evidence-backed approach for improving egg quality and fertility.
The latest scientific research reveals that egg quality has a powerful impact on how long it takes to get pregnant and the risk of miscarriage. Poor egg quality is in fact the single most common cause of age-related infertility, recurrent miscarriage, and failed IVF cycles.
Based on a vast array of scientific research, It Starts with the Egg provides a comprehensive program for improving egg quality in three months, with specific advice tailored to a variety of fertility challenges— including endometriosis, unexplained infertility, diminished ovarian reserve, PCOS, and recurrent miscarriage.
With concrete strategies such as minimizing exposure to common environmental toxins, choosing the right vitamins and supplements to safeguard developing eggs, and harnessing nutritional advice shown to boost IVF success rates, this book offers practical solutions that will help you get pregnant faster and deliver a healthy baby.
326 pages, Paperback
Published February 23, 2019
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February 24, 2022this was an interesting read. not looking to become pregnant any time soon but i'm on a quest to better understand fertility and the intricacies of uterine ownership lol. i don't have much to critique here because it didn't seem to veer too far into fear mongering territory, though some of the fixes suggested seemed a little extreme to me.
i'm probably not the target audience for this book, but i'm glad it exists and has helped people looking to conceive! (and it did get me to consider throwing out my plastic tupperware lol)
i'm probably not the target audience for this book, but i'm glad it exists and has helped people looking to conceive! (and it did get me to consider throwing out my plastic tupperware lol)
November 2, 2022
Let’s sh*t on another work of pseudoscientific garbage, shall we?
Read any of the forums or subreddits. The ladies will tell you that this book sits just behind Taking Charge of Your Fertility as the number 2 must read if you’re TTC. (That’s “Trying to Conceive” for you noobs. Yes, this *community* is, in fact, a cult by the Amanda Montell definition.) As a medical science nerd well-versed in how easy it is to sell turds to vulnerable populations, I’m here to tell you that It Starts with the Egg is not all its cracked up to be. (Pun not intended, just convenient.)
TLDR; this book exaggerates how much scientific evidence supports that specific supplements and diets improve egg quality. Rebecca Fett was a mostly healthy woman in her late-20s when she conceived through IVF. She is not a scientist, and her website is full of affiliate links.
First of all, the good-ish stuff. Why this is a 2-star thing and not a 1-star thing:
-Fett bends over backwards a few times to make it abundantly clear that you can try everything promoted in this book and still not get pregnant. So, at least she isn’t promising an easy cure for infertility. She says something along the lines of, “but at least you’ll know that you did everything you could.” Ok, sure… You could also feel that you wasted your time, mental well-being, and money on nonsense, but I suppose it’s all about your perspective.
-The BPA chapter in the 2019 edition is pretty good. I’m sure it was a lot crunchier and cringier in the first edition, but the edition I read gives practical tips for how to reduce your BPA exposure while also assuring you that BPA isn’t in every plastic, and that it’s impossible, and unnecessary, to stay away from BPA entirely. To me, even if BPA wasn’t bad for your fertility, replacing your plastic cups and Tupperware with glass is better for the environment anyway. It’s a win-win situation.
Now, the BS:
1. Right off the bat, Fett misleads her readers. She talks about how she was diagnosed with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) in her mid-20s, right before she underwent IVF. She claims she was told she would be “unlikely to conceive with her own eggs.” Determined to prove the medical community wrong, she ate really healthy, exercised a lot, and did a bunch of research on which supplements could improve her egg quality. And yay! She got 20 eggs at egg retrieval. (This is an average number, btw.) And she and her husband got 19 embryos. They “set a fertility clinic record” with their unusually high amount of embryos.
What’s wrong here? First of all, there’s an ongoing debate in the IVF community whether or not people with DOR have lower quality eggs or just fewer eggs. It probably depends on a lot on the patient’s age and her medical conditions. Rebecca Fett does have autoimmune arthritis (that’s why she used a surrogate), but she was also only 26 when she started TTC. As far as I can tell, she and her husband never tried naturally. They always knew they'd use a surrogate. I have a hard time believing that her doctors told her she was “unlikely to conceive with her own eggs” with a full stop. Perhaps they said she’d be unlikely to conceive “if you wait until you’re 35” or “your odds of needing donor eggs are higher than the average woman your age.” Or even if her initial diagnosis of DOR was a fluke. (This can happen if you’re on birth control when you get tested.)
Most couples in an IVF clinic only end up with 3-5 healthy blastocysts because they’re at least in their mid-30s and have multiple disadvantages other than DOR (history of cancer, genetic diseases, male factor infertility, endometriosis, etc.). Fett acknowledges that your results may vary if you follow her advice, but doesn’t point out that a) nothing can increase your egg count, which is what will determine how many eggs you get upon egg retrieval, b) diminished ovarian reserve doesn’t automatically mean bad eggs, and c) that she was at an advantage undergoing IVF at age 27.
2. Rebecca Fett wants to sell you pyramid scheme makeup. She talks about how most makeup is full of phthalates and other “toxins” and that you can find fertility safe makeup recommendations on her website. She provides links to products from the company BeautyCounter, for which she is a “consultant.” Yes, BeautyCounter is an MLM.
3. The supplement chapters aren’t the worst, but they’re also not great. The average person doesn’t need to take anything in addition to regular old prenatals before and during pregnancy. No need to overthink the formulation of your folate or (for f***s sake) your exact Vitamin D levels. Of course, you may want to be more diligent if you have a medical condition or if you’re doing IVF. I have Hashimoto’s, and I looked up and down every pharmacy aisle to find a prenatal that includes selenium. (SmartyPants, if you care to know.) I’m not sure how much I buy into the idea that selenium reduces thyroid autoimmune activity, but my endocrinologist believes its worth a try. So, if you’re undergoing fertility treatments and your RE wants you to take CoQ10, absolutely listen to her. But don’t waste $20-$40 on a month’s supply of antioxidants or any other fancy supplement if your doctor says you don’t need them.
4. Speaking of Hashimoto’s, the information in here about thyroid disorders is mostly ill-informed. You’re more likely to have low DHEA with an autoimmune thyroid disease? Says who? My DHEA is fine. Pretty sure this depends on your other risk factors. If you have a thyroid problem and PCOS (as many of us do), you’re going to have high DHEA and high testosterone. And for the love of God, if you have Hashimoto’s but not celiac you do not need to be gluten free! Period. Stop it.
5. The diet chapters are horrifying, of course. This is a popular science book. What were you expecting? Fett claims that everyone trying to get pregnant should eat low-mercury fish. No, no, don’t just rely on the omega-3s in your prenatals! You need to eat the actual fish. Sorry, vegans. No babies for you, I guess. Also, you need to stress over whether you’re eating too many potatoes. You’re not having trouble conceiving because you’re over 35 or because you can’t tell when you’re ovulating. It’s definitely the potatoes.
I reached my breaking point when she implied that she cured her psoriatic arthritis only by adhering to the Mediterranean diet. Sorry friends, you cannot cure your autoimmune diseases; you can only manage them. Take your meds and eat good food- not too much, mostly (or all) plants. Reduce your sugar intake (a little if you’re not prediabetic, a lot if you are), reduce your saturated fat intake, reduce your alcohol consumption, eat a good amount of protein and fiber, lose a bit of weight if you’re obese… this is 6th grade Home Economics. You don’t need a $20 book to tell you this stuff. You certainly don’t need to buy this book and the It Starts With the Egg Cookbook. Yotam Ottolenghi and Jamie Oliver can provide you with tasty, vegetarian and Mediterranean recipes. They are actual chefs, and their books are way prettier. Alternatively, Pinterest is free.
6. This is more nitpicky, but Fett also implies that she’s a microbiologist. She’s not. She’s a science writer/journalist with an undergrad degree in biology who used to work as a patent attorney. I’m not saying a science writer or researcher isn’t qualified to write a great book on fertility, I’m just saying that she’s not very upfront about her exact “background in science.”
When you’re beginning a new, scary process like trying to conceive or when you receive a difficult diagnosis, like infertility, it’s easy to fall for expensive, pseudoscientific advice. I’m the most skeptical person on the planet, but even I got scammed by my dentist before I found out that my jaw pain was caused by thyroiditis and not by a “reverse swallow.” Just… be careful out there.
Here are some free resources on conception and infertility that I recommend you check out instead of paying for this book:
If you’re just getting started trying to conceive:
On Youtube: Mama Dr Jones, The Doctors Bjorkman
One Reddit: r/TryingForaBaby
(Also, Taking Charge of Your Fertility. Not free but definitely worth it, as long as you pair it with some fact checking of your own.)
If you have an infertility diagnosis or think you’re heading towards one:
Resolve: The National Infertility Association
On YouTube: Natalie Crawford (OBGYN/RE), Infertility TV
On Reddit: r/Infertility, r/IVF
(I also recommend the book Conceivability: What I Learned Exploring the Frontiers of Fertility. Again, not free, but great science/history/memoir on the fertility industry. I found it at my library! I haven’t read The Trying Game yet, but it’s next on my list.)
And of course, start by talking to your doctor!! If you don't like what your GP has to say, try an OB/GYN! If she can't help you, next step is reproductive endocrinology.
Read any of the forums or subreddits. The ladies will tell you that this book sits just behind Taking Charge of Your Fertility as the number 2 must read if you’re TTC. (That’s “Trying to Conceive” for you noobs. Yes, this *community* is, in fact, a cult by the Amanda Montell definition.) As a medical science nerd well-versed in how easy it is to sell turds to vulnerable populations, I’m here to tell you that It Starts with the Egg is not all its cracked up to be. (Pun not intended, just convenient.)
TLDR; this book exaggerates how much scientific evidence supports that specific supplements and diets improve egg quality. Rebecca Fett was a mostly healthy woman in her late-20s when she conceived through IVF. She is not a scientist, and her website is full of affiliate links.
First of all, the good-ish stuff. Why this is a 2-star thing and not a 1-star thing:
-Fett bends over backwards a few times to make it abundantly clear that you can try everything promoted in this book and still not get pregnant. So, at least she isn’t promising an easy cure for infertility. She says something along the lines of, “but at least you’ll know that you did everything you could.” Ok, sure… You could also feel that you wasted your time, mental well-being, and money on nonsense, but I suppose it’s all about your perspective.
-The BPA chapter in the 2019 edition is pretty good. I’m sure it was a lot crunchier and cringier in the first edition, but the edition I read gives practical tips for how to reduce your BPA exposure while also assuring you that BPA isn’t in every plastic, and that it’s impossible, and unnecessary, to stay away from BPA entirely. To me, even if BPA wasn’t bad for your fertility, replacing your plastic cups and Tupperware with glass is better for the environment anyway. It’s a win-win situation.
Now, the BS:
1. Right off the bat, Fett misleads her readers. She talks about how she was diagnosed with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) in her mid-20s, right before she underwent IVF. She claims she was told she would be “unlikely to conceive with her own eggs.” Determined to prove the medical community wrong, she ate really healthy, exercised a lot, and did a bunch of research on which supplements could improve her egg quality. And yay! She got 20 eggs at egg retrieval. (This is an average number, btw.) And she and her husband got 19 embryos. They “set a fertility clinic record” with their unusually high amount of embryos.
What’s wrong here? First of all, there’s an ongoing debate in the IVF community whether or not people with DOR have lower quality eggs or just fewer eggs. It probably depends on a lot on the patient’s age and her medical conditions. Rebecca Fett does have autoimmune arthritis (that’s why she used a surrogate), but she was also only 26 when she started TTC. As far as I can tell, she and her husband never tried naturally. They always knew they'd use a surrogate. I have a hard time believing that her doctors told her she was “unlikely to conceive with her own eggs” with a full stop. Perhaps they said she’d be unlikely to conceive “if you wait until you’re 35” or “your odds of needing donor eggs are higher than the average woman your age.” Or even if her initial diagnosis of DOR was a fluke. (This can happen if you’re on birth control when you get tested.)
Most couples in an IVF clinic only end up with 3-5 healthy blastocysts because they’re at least in their mid-30s and have multiple disadvantages other than DOR (history of cancer, genetic diseases, male factor infertility, endometriosis, etc.). Fett acknowledges that your results may vary if you follow her advice, but doesn’t point out that a) nothing can increase your egg count, which is what will determine how many eggs you get upon egg retrieval, b) diminished ovarian reserve doesn’t automatically mean bad eggs, and c) that she was at an advantage undergoing IVF at age 27.
2. Rebecca Fett wants to sell you pyramid scheme makeup. She talks about how most makeup is full of phthalates and other “toxins” and that you can find fertility safe makeup recommendations on her website. She provides links to products from the company BeautyCounter, for which she is a “consultant.” Yes, BeautyCounter is an MLM.
3. The supplement chapters aren’t the worst, but they’re also not great. The average person doesn’t need to take anything in addition to regular old prenatals before and during pregnancy. No need to overthink the formulation of your folate or (for f***s sake) your exact Vitamin D levels. Of course, you may want to be more diligent if you have a medical condition or if you’re doing IVF. I have Hashimoto’s, and I looked up and down every pharmacy aisle to find a prenatal that includes selenium. (SmartyPants, if you care to know.) I’m not sure how much I buy into the idea that selenium reduces thyroid autoimmune activity, but my endocrinologist believes its worth a try. So, if you’re undergoing fertility treatments and your RE wants you to take CoQ10, absolutely listen to her. But don’t waste $20-$40 on a month’s supply of antioxidants or any other fancy supplement if your doctor says you don’t need them.
4. Speaking of Hashimoto’s, the information in here about thyroid disorders is mostly ill-informed. You’re more likely to have low DHEA with an autoimmune thyroid disease? Says who? My DHEA is fine. Pretty sure this depends on your other risk factors. If you have a thyroid problem and PCOS (as many of us do), you’re going to have high DHEA and high testosterone. And for the love of God, if you have Hashimoto’s but not celiac you do not need to be gluten free! Period. Stop it.
5. The diet chapters are horrifying, of course. This is a popular science book. What were you expecting? Fett claims that everyone trying to get pregnant should eat low-mercury fish. No, no, don’t just rely on the omega-3s in your prenatals! You need to eat the actual fish. Sorry, vegans. No babies for you, I guess. Also, you need to stress over whether you’re eating too many potatoes. You’re not having trouble conceiving because you’re over 35 or because you can’t tell when you’re ovulating. It’s definitely the potatoes.
I reached my breaking point when she implied that she cured her psoriatic arthritis only by adhering to the Mediterranean diet. Sorry friends, you cannot cure your autoimmune diseases; you can only manage them. Take your meds and eat good food- not too much, mostly (or all) plants. Reduce your sugar intake (a little if you’re not prediabetic, a lot if you are), reduce your saturated fat intake, reduce your alcohol consumption, eat a good amount of protein and fiber, lose a bit of weight if you’re obese… this is 6th grade Home Economics. You don’t need a $20 book to tell you this stuff. You certainly don’t need to buy this book and the It Starts With the Egg Cookbook. Yotam Ottolenghi and Jamie Oliver can provide you with tasty, vegetarian and Mediterranean recipes. They are actual chefs, and their books are way prettier. Alternatively, Pinterest is free.
6. This is more nitpicky, but Fett also implies that she’s a microbiologist. She’s not. She’s a science writer/journalist with an undergrad degree in biology who used to work as a patent attorney. I’m not saying a science writer or researcher isn’t qualified to write a great book on fertility, I’m just saying that she’s not very upfront about her exact “background in science.”
When you’re beginning a new, scary process like trying to conceive or when you receive a difficult diagnosis, like infertility, it’s easy to fall for expensive, pseudoscientific advice. I’m the most skeptical person on the planet, but even I got scammed by my dentist before I found out that my jaw pain was caused by thyroiditis and not by a “reverse swallow.” Just… be careful out there.
Here are some free resources on conception and infertility that I recommend you check out instead of paying for this book:
If you’re just getting started trying to conceive:
On Youtube: Mama Dr Jones, The Doctors Bjorkman
One Reddit: r/TryingForaBaby
(Also, Taking Charge of Your Fertility. Not free but definitely worth it, as long as you pair it with some fact checking of your own.)
If you have an infertility diagnosis or think you’re heading towards one:
Resolve: The National Infertility Association
On YouTube: Natalie Crawford (OBGYN/RE), Infertility TV
On Reddit: r/Infertility, r/IVF
(I also recommend the book Conceivability: What I Learned Exploring the Frontiers of Fertility. Again, not free, but great science/history/memoir on the fertility industry. I found it at my library! I haven’t read The Trying Game yet, but it’s next on my list.)
And of course, start by talking to your doctor!! If you don't like what your GP has to say, try an OB/GYN! If she can't help you, next step is reproductive endocrinology.
November 22, 2020
Recommend for anyone trying to get pregnant and especially for women who are looking to have their eggs frozen and/or do IVF (or IUI) OR if you are female and having period issues or other physical issues or symptoms that are going undiagnosed.
SUMMARY:
*Reduce overall carbohydrate intake and increase overall protein intake, but do not do "low carb" ideally 40% carb, 30% fat, 30% protein
* Choose "carbs" in the form of quinoa, steel-cut oats, wild rice, lentils, legumes
* strongly limit starchy vegetables (sweet potato, carrots, pumpkin, winter squash) and potatoes, cereals, white rice, and corn should be avoided
* key is to balance blood sugar levels
* limit fruits (2 servings per day max, whole fruits only)
* increase whole fats (eg raw nuts, avocado, seeds)
* increase leafy greens non-starchy vegetables
* ORGANIC EVERYTHING
* berries (for antioxidants)
* avoid refined grains, sugar, sweeteners
* avoid gluten/dairy if you have an inflammatory or autoimmune condition (eg endometriosis)
* avoid caffeine/alcohol, no soda
* get tested for celiac disease if history/symptoms
* get thyroid tested (full panel) esp. if miscarriage
* take supplements (this applies more to IVF/TTC) but in general: vitamin D, C, E, dha (omega 3), even IF you have "normal" levels. If doing egg things, CoQ-10 (ubiquinol), R-alpha lipoic acid, NAC, DHEA (maybe), folate/prenatal.
The doses are super specific and not all brands and "types" are "good" so before you drop $60-$200 on supplements, check out Fett's website or this book so you buy the right ones.
One CRAZY MIND BLOWING thing I read, was that men think they're off the hook if they pass a sperm test--but she points out the tests only look at how many sperm and how they are swimming. The test doesn't look at their DNA! So what's the point of having a lot of sperm if they're defective? Fortunately, men can improve their sperm quality and she has a chapter dedicated to that as well.
My husband implemented a few things out of curiosity and said he feels better, has more energy, can ride his bike longer, and is recovering faster from his workouts.
——
Audible recommended this book to me "based on my listening history" and initially I thought, "this isn't for me" but then I read some of the Amazon reviews---stories of women in their 40s who conceived 'naturally' after multiple rounds of failed IVF, or who, like me, had problems that couldn't be diagnosed, and they felt better so I thought it couldn't hurt to read this. I am so glad I did!
Because of all my previous reading, some of the information wasn't "new" to me, but plenty was and I appreciated how comprehensive and easy-to-understand this book is on hormone health.
It's also polished and professional but not dry-academic. I now own both the kindle AND the audio, which is rare for me.
=================
SUMMARY:
*Reduce overall carbohydrate intake and increase overall protein intake, but do not do "low carb" ideally 40% carb, 30% fat, 30% protein
* Choose "carbs" in the form of quinoa, steel-cut oats, wild rice, lentils, legumes
* strongly limit starchy vegetables (sweet potato, carrots, pumpkin, winter squash) and potatoes, cereals, white rice, and corn should be avoided
* key is to balance blood sugar levels
* limit fruits (2 servings per day max, whole fruits only)
* increase whole fats (eg raw nuts, avocado, seeds)
* increase leafy greens non-starchy vegetables
* ORGANIC EVERYTHING
* berries (for antioxidants)
* avoid refined grains, sugar, sweeteners
* avoid gluten/dairy if you have an inflammatory or autoimmune condition (eg endometriosis)
* avoid caffeine/alcohol, no soda
* get tested for celiac disease if history/symptoms
* get thyroid tested (full panel) esp. if miscarriage
* take supplements (this applies more to IVF/TTC) but in general: vitamin D, C, E, dha (omega 3), even IF you have "normal" levels. If doing egg things, CoQ-10 (ubiquinol), R-alpha lipoic acid, NAC, DHEA (maybe), folate/prenatal.
The doses are super specific and not all brands and "types" are "good" so before you drop $60-$200 on supplements, check out Fett's website or this book so you buy the right ones.
One CRAZY MIND BLOWING thing I read, was that men think they're off the hook if they pass a sperm test--but she points out the tests only look at how many sperm and how they are swimming. The test doesn't look at their DNA! So what's the point of having a lot of sperm if they're defective? Fortunately, men can improve their sperm quality and she has a chapter dedicated to that as well.
My husband implemented a few things out of curiosity and said he feels better, has more energy, can ride his bike longer, and is recovering faster from his workouts.
——
Audible recommended this book to me "based on my listening history" and initially I thought, "this isn't for me" but then I read some of the Amazon reviews---stories of women in their 40s who conceived 'naturally' after multiple rounds of failed IVF, or who, like me, had problems that couldn't be diagnosed, and they felt better so I thought it couldn't hurt to read this. I am so glad I did!
Because of all my previous reading, some of the information wasn't "new" to me, but plenty was and I appreciated how comprehensive and easy-to-understand this book is on hormone health.
It's also polished and professional but not dry-academic. I now own both the kindle AND the audio, which is rare for me.
=================
March 31, 2014
I found this book so helpful. You hear about things like BPAs and other chemicals being bad for you, but I was never sure exactly what I should be avoiding and to be honest it all just seemed too difficult. This is the first book I've read that really puts it all together, explains what you should avoid and what the risks are, and also what positive things you can do, what nutrients are important, etc. I also had no idea how much much of an impact you could make to your fertility by making a few simple changes.
This book has a lot of in-depth discussion of scientific material that I found really interesting but if you're not curious about that level of detail its easy to skim through to get to the practical advice - the end of the book includes an action plan, which distills everything into a handy list. And nice to know that the practical advice is based on scientific studies, unlike other fertility books I've read.
Highly recommended!
This book has a lot of in-depth discussion of scientific material that I found really interesting but if you're not curious about that level of detail its easy to skim through to get to the practical advice - the end of the book includes an action plan, which distills everything into a handy list. And nice to know that the practical advice is based on scientific studies, unlike other fertility books I've read.
Highly recommended!
November 7, 2021
Update to add: I delivered my perfect little girl at age 40 and she’s 8 months now! Perfect as can be. She actually had less issues than the baby I had at 34!
This book got me pregnant naturally at 39! I promised myself I’d write this review if we made it past 12 weeks and baby was normal, and here we are!
We had a devastating miscarriage at age 38 and then five chemical pregnancies back-to-back before someone recommended this book to me. I was very skeptical. It was a short read, was logical, and had simple protocols to follow, which my husband and I both did for two months. A fertility doctor told me I likely couldn’t have a pregnancy without IVF, but my AMH level was really amazing for my age (3.7), so he was optimistic that there was hope for us.
I already didn’t consume sugar or gluten and almost never drank alcohol, so that was easy. A huge takeaway was the information on L-Arginine, which I had been taking for over a year at the recommendation of a different fertility book. I removed that and ate super clean, Mediterranean style, as she suggested. All organic, lots of salad and protein! I also lowered my caffeine significantly, which was probably the hardest part initially. We already used clean products and all glass Tupperware.
Two months later we were pregnant and it’s our first pregnancy to make it past six weeks (we’re 13 weeks now). NIPT results just came back with no chromosomal abnormalities and it’s a healthy baby girl. I turned 40 during this pregnancy and I can’t believe this was possible with just some simple changes. So happy! Everyone should read this book who wants to conceive or has been diagnosed with the ever-elusive “secondary infertility.”
This book got me pregnant naturally at 39! I promised myself I’d write this review if we made it past 12 weeks and baby was normal, and here we are!
We had a devastating miscarriage at age 38 and then five chemical pregnancies back-to-back before someone recommended this book to me. I was very skeptical. It was a short read, was logical, and had simple protocols to follow, which my husband and I both did for two months. A fertility doctor told me I likely couldn’t have a pregnancy without IVF, but my AMH level was really amazing for my age (3.7), so he was optimistic that there was hope for us.
I already didn’t consume sugar or gluten and almost never drank alcohol, so that was easy. A huge takeaway was the information on L-Arginine, which I had been taking for over a year at the recommendation of a different fertility book. I removed that and ate super clean, Mediterranean style, as she suggested. All organic, lots of salad and protein! I also lowered my caffeine significantly, which was probably the hardest part initially. We already used clean products and all glass Tupperware.
Two months later we were pregnant and it’s our first pregnancy to make it past six weeks (we’re 13 weeks now). NIPT results just came back with no chromosomal abnormalities and it’s a healthy baby girl. I turned 40 during this pregnancy and I can’t believe this was possible with just some simple changes. So happy! Everyone should read this book who wants to conceive or has been diagnosed with the ever-elusive “secondary infertility.”
January 17, 2024
I read this book for work and because a friend told me about it. It Starts with the Egg is full of really good research. I’m reducing a star because I think mental health and stress reduction needs a higher focus. I can see someone obsessively following the guidance in this book and still struggling with fertility due to being rigid and having higher stress levels.
December 14, 2020
3.5☆
Don't be discouraged. It's often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock. ~Unknown
This is an educational read esp. for those who are having difficulty getting pregnant naturally like myself and are considering fertility treatment as an alternative.
Overall, this is a good read. However, I find that some information are written redundantly all throughout the book, though the author might just want to reiterate to the readers that the facts presented here are based on researches done by fertility experts from all over the world; some proven and others are still under study. Still, I feel like it is unnecessary to repeat the similar information in almost every chapter when more examples or situations should have been added instead.
On the positive notes, the author recommended several hormone, vitamin and mineral supplements that may benefit women based on their individual cases (e.g. diminished ovarian reserve, PCOS, age-related infertility, endometriosis, etc.), which I find instructive though I have yet to try. Additionally, diet modification esp. avoiding "fast" carbohydrates and choosing "slow" carbohydrates can help increase the chances of getting pregnant because it decreases the disruption of glucose breakdown which in turn have positive effects on hormone regulation in the body, thereby helping restore fertility by improving the quality of egg and sperm cells. I also like that the author includes men in her discussions because, as it is obvious, they play half of the crucial role in success of a healthy pregnancy.
This book may be informative, but I still think it's best to consult first with a medical professional before trying the supplements or engaging in diet modifications.
Don't be discouraged. It's often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock. ~Unknown
This is an educational read esp. for those who are having difficulty getting pregnant naturally like myself and are considering fertility treatment as an alternative.
Overall, this is a good read. However, I find that some information are written redundantly all throughout the book, though the author might just want to reiterate to the readers that the facts presented here are based on researches done by fertility experts from all over the world; some proven and others are still under study. Still, I feel like it is unnecessary to repeat the similar information in almost every chapter when more examples or situations should have been added instead.
On the positive notes, the author recommended several hormone, vitamin and mineral supplements that may benefit women based on their individual cases (e.g. diminished ovarian reserve, PCOS, age-related infertility, endometriosis, etc.), which I find instructive though I have yet to try. Additionally, diet modification esp. avoiding "fast" carbohydrates and choosing "slow" carbohydrates can help increase the chances of getting pregnant because it decreases the disruption of glucose breakdown which in turn have positive effects on hormone regulation in the body, thereby helping restore fertility by improving the quality of egg and sperm cells. I also like that the author includes men in her discussions because, as it is obvious, they play half of the crucial role in success of a healthy pregnancy.
This book may be informative, but I still think it's best to consult first with a medical professional before trying the supplements or engaging in diet modifications.
April 23, 2026
I’m such an open book when it comes to sensitive topics because I never want another woman to feel alone. I’m currently trying for baby number two and have gone through two recurrent miscarriages in a row. This book truly helped me better understand why it can happen, especially when it comes to chromosome abnormalities. It really helped me and made me feel a little less lost.
January 8, 2022
- Reduce BPA (synthetic oestrogen - disrupts hormones) folate can combat this
- Reduce phthalates (endocrine disruptors)
- Mediterranean style diet - boosts IVF success rate
- DHEA (hormone) and Omega 3s can improve fertility
- Melatonin supplements - only helpful in IVF as can make it more difficult for fertility in long term
- Vitamin D (research with this and fertility is just beginning). Vitamin D deficiency correlated with low fertility and higher miscarriage rates. I find this interesting as I began having problems with ovulation and my periods shifted, when having my vitamin levels measured I found that my Vitamin D levels were low.
- Treat thyroid imbalances
- Treat celiac disease
- Take prenatal vitamin before pregnancy - at least 3 months before trying
- Take folate in the form methylfolate
- Take B12
- Take B6
- Vitamin C
- Zinc (plays a role in thyroid function)
- Selenium (play a role in thyroid function)
- Iron
- Co-q10 (prevents poor egg quality - does not need to be taken after pregnancy)
- Vitamin E (slightly)
- Sperm count, mobility begins to decline and DNA breakage increases after age 35
- 2 months for sperm to be made and oxidation takes place - need the right amount not too much or too little (vitamin C and E needed for this) high oxidation has higher DNA fragmentation and infertility.
- Men to take a daily antioxidant supplement or a multivitamin (good to have selenium and methylfolate in it) take it 2-3 months before trying to conceive. Co-q10 and omega 3s also good for repairing sperm damage.
- Avoid BPA
- Avoid having cellphone in pocket and wearing tight underwear
- Reduce phthalates (endocrine disruptors)
- Mediterranean style diet - boosts IVF success rate
- DHEA (hormone) and Omega 3s can improve fertility
- Melatonin supplements - only helpful in IVF as can make it more difficult for fertility in long term
- Vitamin D (research with this and fertility is just beginning). Vitamin D deficiency correlated with low fertility and higher miscarriage rates. I find this interesting as I began having problems with ovulation and my periods shifted, when having my vitamin levels measured I found that my Vitamin D levels were low.
- Treat thyroid imbalances
- Treat celiac disease
- Take prenatal vitamin before pregnancy - at least 3 months before trying
- Take folate in the form methylfolate
- Take B12
- Take B6
- Vitamin C
- Zinc (plays a role in thyroid function)
- Selenium (play a role in thyroid function)
- Iron
- Co-q10 (prevents poor egg quality - does not need to be taken after pregnancy)
- Vitamin E (slightly)
- Sperm count, mobility begins to decline and DNA breakage increases after age 35
- 2 months for sperm to be made and oxidation takes place - need the right amount not too much or too little (vitamin C and E needed for this) high oxidation has higher DNA fragmentation and infertility.
- Men to take a daily antioxidant supplement or a multivitamin (good to have selenium and methylfolate in it) take it 2-3 months before trying to conceive. Co-q10 and omega 3s also good for repairing sperm damage.
- Avoid BPA
- Avoid having cellphone in pocket and wearing tight underwear
May 7, 2020
Great! Another book to generate shame and blame on women. Can't have a baby? it's because of plastic you idiot. Can't have a baby, you're a stupid fatso. I hated this book, and refuse to give into it's shaming of women for a medical condition.
March 26, 2025
This book has officially earned a place on my shelf of “infertility resources.”
I never considered egg quality very much until this last year. After a year of secondary infertility, I started to wonder about the quality of my eggs. This book offered a wealth of knowledge to improve egg quality, whether trying to conceive naturally, through IUI, or IVF.
I enjoyed how she addressed every major cause of infertility and had answers for most of them. There was a detail dive on what qualifies as “bad eggs” and that egg quality is one thing we can control through supplements and diet. I have never considered going on the mediterranean diet, but the amount of research presented in this book about it has changed my mind (goodbye red meat and hello fish!).
The two chapters focused on reducing toxins such as BPA and phthalates were so thorough and so encouraging. I was relieved to discover I do 90% of what she recommends, but gained more knowledge of just how to avoid these toxins. This is not only beneficial to me, but to any baby I may carry in the future.
Lots of information on how insulin resistance (my own personal issue due to PCOS) lowers egg quality and increases the chance of miscarriage. There were also many suggestions on how to improve your sensitivity through diet and supplements. There are many supplements to choose from and she included a list of high quality ones to make the task of buying these supplements less daunting. Oh, and learning about how there are so many different forms of CoQ10 (a supplement hailed for its positive effect on egg quality) and which ones are actually beneficial was mind blowing. I also learned one of the supplemental I take does more harm than good and increases risk of miscarriage (Good bye L-Arginine!)
I also appreciated the focus on sperm quality. It’s common knowledge now that male infertility contributes to nearly 50% of all cases in which a couple has difficulty conceiving, so having a detailed chapter on how to boost sperm quality was helpful (read that as my husband is finally going to start taking a multivitamin haha).
All in all, this was well worth the read and I’m now recommending it to all my friends who are either just starting to think of getting pregnant or have been struggling through years of infertility.
I never considered egg quality very much until this last year. After a year of secondary infertility, I started to wonder about the quality of my eggs. This book offered a wealth of knowledge to improve egg quality, whether trying to conceive naturally, through IUI, or IVF.
I enjoyed how she addressed every major cause of infertility and had answers for most of them. There was a detail dive on what qualifies as “bad eggs” and that egg quality is one thing we can control through supplements and diet. I have never considered going on the mediterranean diet, but the amount of research presented in this book about it has changed my mind (goodbye red meat and hello fish!).
The two chapters focused on reducing toxins such as BPA and phthalates were so thorough and so encouraging. I was relieved to discover I do 90% of what she recommends, but gained more knowledge of just how to avoid these toxins. This is not only beneficial to me, but to any baby I may carry in the future.
Lots of information on how insulin resistance (my own personal issue due to PCOS) lowers egg quality and increases the chance of miscarriage. There were also many suggestions on how to improve your sensitivity through diet and supplements. There are many supplements to choose from and she included a list of high quality ones to make the task of buying these supplements less daunting. Oh, and learning about how there are so many different forms of CoQ10 (a supplement hailed for its positive effect on egg quality) and which ones are actually beneficial was mind blowing. I also learned one of the supplemental I take does more harm than good and increases risk of miscarriage (Good bye L-Arginine!)
I also appreciated the focus on sperm quality. It’s common knowledge now that male infertility contributes to nearly 50% of all cases in which a couple has difficulty conceiving, so having a detailed chapter on how to boost sperm quality was helpful (read that as my husband is finally going to start taking a multivitamin haha).
All in all, this was well worth the read and I’m now recommending it to all my friends who are either just starting to think of getting pregnant or have been struggling through years of infertility.
November 5, 2021
This book was amazing! Definitely a book to pick up if you're looking to get pregnant in the near future or now. Wish I picked it up like a year ago. So much valuable information backed up with scientific research.
Notes:
- As women age they produce a higher % of abnormal eggs, eggs with too few or too many chromosomes that the body discharges or miscarries
- Women’s egg quality is one of the most important factors in getting pregnant, not necessarily timing ovulation. You can ovulate all you want but if you aren’t producing healthy eggs there’s little chance
- How to improve egg health - #1 is avoid BPA, Even in minuscule amounts. From plastic food storage containers, canned food and drinks, and paper receipts.
- BPA most often enters the body when people consume food and drinks that have been packaged or stored in a material that leaches BPA, but small amounts can also be absorbed through the skin from contact with products coated with BPA, such as paper receipts
- The first strategy to limit your exposure to BPA is to eliminate plastic from your kitchen. When this plastic is damaged by contact with hot foods, washing in hot water, washing with harsh detergent, or heating in the microwave, it may begin to leach BPA into any food or drink it touches. - Instead of switching to BPA-free plastic, a better approach is to replace plastic in your kitchen with glass, wood, stainless steel, and ceramics. This could mean replacing all your mixing bowls, storage containers, and measuring cups
- Another toxin is Phthalates are widely used in soft plastic, vinyl, cleaning products, nail polish, and fragrances. Causes increased levels of oxidative stress in the body. phthalate exposure has been associated with an increased risk of endometriosis. women with higher levels of certain phthalates during pregnancy were more likely to have baby boys with specific problems with their reproductive systems. and personal care products such as hairspray, lotions, fragrances, and nail polish often have very high levels of phthalates
- the odds of pregnancy were four times higher for women with high vitamin D levels compared to those with a vitamin D
- B12 vitamin B6. zinc, selenium, and iodine are necessary for proper thyroid function
Prenatal vitamin - Check for at least 2mg of B6, 6mcg of B12, 100mg of Iodine, 7mg of Zinc, and 50 mcg of Selenium. If you choose a prenatal that contains folic acid instead of folate or methyl-folate, 400mcg of folate, CoQ10 increases energy production in mitochondria, how important this energy production is for egg and embryo development
- The most powerful change you can make to your diet — a switch to slowly digested carbohydrates instead of refined carbohydrates
- Eat low glycemic slow digesting carbs like quinoa and not potatoes white rice and white bread
Research has shown that high blood sugar and insulin levels significantly decrease egg quality
insulin resistance is associated with significant damage to mitochondria and disrupted egg development
- Choose quinoa, couscous wild rice, beans, seeds, brown rice, and buckwheat, lentils chickpeas, kidney beans, over anything made from flour, such as bread, bagel, pasta or processed into breakfast cereal
- Trans fat is terrible
- A diet based on vegetables, fruit, vegetable oils, legumes, and lean proteins (fish in particular), together with low-glycemic carbohydrates, dramatically improves fertility
- Men should supplement for a daily multi vitamin, coQ10, and Vitamin C
Notes:
- As women age they produce a higher % of abnormal eggs, eggs with too few or too many chromosomes that the body discharges or miscarries
- Women’s egg quality is one of the most important factors in getting pregnant, not necessarily timing ovulation. You can ovulate all you want but if you aren’t producing healthy eggs there’s little chance
- How to improve egg health - #1 is avoid BPA, Even in minuscule amounts. From plastic food storage containers, canned food and drinks, and paper receipts.
- BPA most often enters the body when people consume food and drinks that have been packaged or stored in a material that leaches BPA, but small amounts can also be absorbed through the skin from contact with products coated with BPA, such as paper receipts
- The first strategy to limit your exposure to BPA is to eliminate plastic from your kitchen. When this plastic is damaged by contact with hot foods, washing in hot water, washing with harsh detergent, or heating in the microwave, it may begin to leach BPA into any food or drink it touches. - Instead of switching to BPA-free plastic, a better approach is to replace plastic in your kitchen with glass, wood, stainless steel, and ceramics. This could mean replacing all your mixing bowls, storage containers, and measuring cups
- Another toxin is Phthalates are widely used in soft plastic, vinyl, cleaning products, nail polish, and fragrances. Causes increased levels of oxidative stress in the body. phthalate exposure has been associated with an increased risk of endometriosis. women with higher levels of certain phthalates during pregnancy were more likely to have baby boys with specific problems with their reproductive systems. and personal care products such as hairspray, lotions, fragrances, and nail polish often have very high levels of phthalates
- the odds of pregnancy were four times higher for women with high vitamin D levels compared to those with a vitamin D
- B12 vitamin B6. zinc, selenium, and iodine are necessary for proper thyroid function
Prenatal vitamin - Check for at least 2mg of B6, 6mcg of B12, 100mg of Iodine, 7mg of Zinc, and 50 mcg of Selenium. If you choose a prenatal that contains folic acid instead of folate or methyl-folate, 400mcg of folate, CoQ10 increases energy production in mitochondria, how important this energy production is for egg and embryo development
- The most powerful change you can make to your diet — a switch to slowly digested carbohydrates instead of refined carbohydrates
- Eat low glycemic slow digesting carbs like quinoa and not potatoes white rice and white bread
Research has shown that high blood sugar and insulin levels significantly decrease egg quality
insulin resistance is associated with significant damage to mitochondria and disrupted egg development
- Choose quinoa, couscous wild rice, beans, seeds, brown rice, and buckwheat, lentils chickpeas, kidney beans, over anything made from flour, such as bread, bagel, pasta or processed into breakfast cereal
- Trans fat is terrible
- A diet based on vegetables, fruit, vegetable oils, legumes, and lean proteins (fish in particular), together with low-glycemic carbohydrates, dramatically improves fertility
- Men should supplement for a daily multi vitamin, coQ10, and Vitamin C
July 2, 2024
2.5/5
Audiobook is good at increased speeds.
Definitely read through the one to three star reviews and not just the five-star reviews.
TW recurrent miscarriages/infertility
I am part of several subreddits where this book is passed around as the holy grail of solving your infertility issues. As someone who recently suffered my third pregnancy loss and had already been working with a reproductive endocrinologist as well as an OBGYN team and PCP, I figured why not pay the $17 and give it a listen just to see if there was anything new I could discuss with my doctors. Keywords- discuss with my doctors. For reference, my PCP had done all of my regular blood panel and thyroid testing, and my reproductive endocrinologist had already done all of my recurrent pregnancy loss panel testing as well as genetic and karyotype testing. I fall into the category of individuals with unexplained infertility.
One thing I noticed from the jump was the repeated statement that these are new studies that have seen positive correlations but the author couldn't guarantee any of her recommendations would actually work. Then I noticed several chapters pushed specific fad diets like gluten-free or paleo. The author also is misleading with her background expertise. Red flags.
The results for folks who follow the guidance in this book are mixed and the research in certain areas in the book is unsubstantiated or lacks the peer reviews/study duplications to be touted to a community of vulnerable individuals desperate for answers and some semblance of control over their bodies. Some of the suggestions do have merit- extra immunology testing, low dose aspirin, checking for B12 deficiency and taking a supplement to correct it, Omega-3 supplements and prenatals, CoQ10... But other supplement recommendations are thrown out without the consideration that folks would just go buy the supplements and not work with a doctor to ensure they are using them correctly and taking the right dose let alone if they even need them. She also has a link to where to buy supplements on her website so I'm assuming she gets a kick back for selling people on them.
All in all, for folks on their fertility journey, most of the recommendations that are peer-reviewed and safe are things easily discussed with a reproductive endocrinologist and often are things commonly recommended by them already. I would skip buying the book and look for a summary list of her recommendations for testing and supplements in it to take to your next doctor's appointment and discuss.
Audiobook is good at increased speeds.
Definitely read through the one to three star reviews and not just the five-star reviews.
TW recurrent miscarriages/infertility
I am part of several subreddits where this book is passed around as the holy grail of solving your infertility issues. As someone who recently suffered my third pregnancy loss and had already been working with a reproductive endocrinologist as well as an OBGYN team and PCP, I figured why not pay the $17 and give it a listen just to see if there was anything new I could discuss with my doctors. Keywords- discuss with my doctors. For reference, my PCP had done all of my regular blood panel and thyroid testing, and my reproductive endocrinologist had already done all of my recurrent pregnancy loss panel testing as well as genetic and karyotype testing. I fall into the category of individuals with unexplained infertility.
One thing I noticed from the jump was the repeated statement that these are new studies that have seen positive correlations but the author couldn't guarantee any of her recommendations would actually work. Then I noticed several chapters pushed specific fad diets like gluten-free or paleo. The author also is misleading with her background expertise. Red flags.
The results for folks who follow the guidance in this book are mixed and the research in certain areas in the book is unsubstantiated or lacks the peer reviews/study duplications to be touted to a community of vulnerable individuals desperate for answers and some semblance of control over their bodies. Some of the suggestions do have merit- extra immunology testing, low dose aspirin, checking for B12 deficiency and taking a supplement to correct it, Omega-3 supplements and prenatals, CoQ10... But other supplement recommendations are thrown out without the consideration that folks would just go buy the supplements and not work with a doctor to ensure they are using them correctly and taking the right dose let alone if they even need them. She also has a link to where to buy supplements on her website so I'm assuming she gets a kick back for selling people on them.
All in all, for folks on their fertility journey, most of the recommendations that are peer-reviewed and safe are things easily discussed with a reproductive endocrinologist and often are things commonly recommended by them already. I would skip buying the book and look for a summary list of her recommendations for testing and supplements in it to take to your next doctor's appointment and discuss.
January 1, 2023
Read this before we got pregnant and I love the science behind her advice. Basically it summarizes research backed ways to optimize egg quality. As someone who loves research and facts, I thought this was a fascinating read. Might not apply to most people reading this review but I’m still going to recommend it
February 11, 2018
This books takes dry and challenging scientific material and puts it in a very digestible way for “laymen”, with action plans based on your infertility issues. I am so glad I found this book. Now, to start changing my life in the hopes it’ll finally result in an actual IVF baby.
November 12, 2018
Would recommend for those with recurrent miscarriage or infertility, especially if you feel your doctor isn't too helpful (which is my experience with pretty much every doctor I've seen).
April 17, 2026
3.5 Stars⭐
Overall I found this book to be very informative. Women considering freezing their eggs, who are struggling with infertility, who are going through (or considering) doing IVF will all gain a lot of knowledge from this book. I liked that there were actionable steps to take.
My biggest complaints that stood out to me very quickly about this book:
- Discouraging language: The author uses very discouraging language. A direct quote from pg 109 in the "Energy for Eggs" section, "As we age, mitochondria become damaged and are less efficient energy producers, much like an old, damaged power plant." I assume that many women reading this book are trying to figure out emotionally challenging situations (getting older and not having a partner yet so considering doing IVF solo or egg freezing, struggling with infertility, struggling with multiple miscarriages, etc) and it feels like that was not handled with the care it should be handled.
-Lack of Racial Diversity in Studies Mentioned: There's moments that made me question the validity of the studies for women of color. On page 76 the author says, "In of the most compelling studies, which was published in 2012, researchers at Columbia University and the University of Southern California (USC) measured vitamin D levels in nearly two hundred women undergoing IVF. Of the caucasian women in the group, the odds of pregnancy were four times higher for women with high vitamin D levels compared to those with a vitamin D deficiency." What about women who weren't caucasian??
-Lack of Accountability for men: The book spends 13 of 14 chapters talking about what women can do and one single chapter on the impact of sperm quality. So often in life the entire owness is placed on women (See: pregnancy, birth control, blame for how a child is raised, etc.) For those women reading this book with a male partner more on what their partner could do would surely be helpful and warranted! Perhaps it has more to do with the book being written in 2019 and the more recent research we have in 2026 about how men's sperm does in fact age?
Overall I found this book to be very informative. Women considering freezing their eggs, who are struggling with infertility, who are going through (or considering) doing IVF will all gain a lot of knowledge from this book. I liked that there were actionable steps to take.
My biggest complaints that stood out to me very quickly about this book:
- Discouraging language: The author uses very discouraging language. A direct quote from pg 109 in the "Energy for Eggs" section, "As we age, mitochondria become damaged and are less efficient energy producers, much like an old, damaged power plant." I assume that many women reading this book are trying to figure out emotionally challenging situations (getting older and not having a partner yet so considering doing IVF solo or egg freezing, struggling with infertility, struggling with multiple miscarriages, etc) and it feels like that was not handled with the care it should be handled.
-Lack of Racial Diversity in Studies Mentioned: There's moments that made me question the validity of the studies for women of color. On page 76 the author says, "In of the most compelling studies, which was published in 2012, researchers at Columbia University and the University of Southern California (USC) measured vitamin D levels in nearly two hundred women undergoing IVF. Of the caucasian women in the group, the odds of pregnancy were four times higher for women with high vitamin D levels compared to those with a vitamin D deficiency." What about women who weren't caucasian??
-Lack of Accountability for men: The book spends 13 of 14 chapters talking about what women can do and one single chapter on the impact of sperm quality. So often in life the entire owness is placed on women (See: pregnancy, birth control, blame for how a child is raised, etc.) For those women reading this book with a male partner more on what their partner could do would surely be helpful and warranted! Perhaps it has more to do with the book being written in 2019 and the more recent research we have in 2026 about how men's sperm does in fact age?
Read
March 6, 2022This was a fascinating read. I appreciate that it’s written by a molecular biologist and she includes the science behind each of the recommendations, and the results from various scientific studies for each recommendation.
Anything related to fertility can be tricky in how the author approaches the recommendations. It’s really easy to inadvertently make the reader feel as though it’s their fault they haven’t had a baby yet - whether it’s an issue with their diet or lifestyle. I appreciated that the author really leaned into the science and made it clear that you should pick and choose what works for you, rather than giving hardfast rules of what you should/shouldn’t do. It reminded me a lot of Emily Oster’s books in that respect.
For instance, the chapters on BPAs, phthalates, and supplements were incredibly enlightening. However, I will literally never give up carbs, so I appreciated that she shared the science behind it, but frames the information in a way to empower the reader to choose what works for them, and not obsess over perfection.
Ultimately, an interesting read and I certainly learned a lot more about egg development, aging/egg quality (and learned some science that makes this seem less scary!), and took away some great tips without feeling like I need to be incredibly restrictive / paranoid about everything I consume or come in contact with.
Anything related to fertility can be tricky in how the author approaches the recommendations. It’s really easy to inadvertently make the reader feel as though it’s their fault they haven’t had a baby yet - whether it’s an issue with their diet or lifestyle. I appreciated that the author really leaned into the science and made it clear that you should pick and choose what works for you, rather than giving hardfast rules of what you should/shouldn’t do. It reminded me a lot of Emily Oster’s books in that respect.
For instance, the chapters on BPAs, phthalates, and supplements were incredibly enlightening. However, I will literally never give up carbs, so I appreciated that she shared the science behind it, but frames the information in a way to empower the reader to choose what works for them, and not obsess over perfection.
Ultimately, an interesting read and I certainly learned a lot more about egg development, aging/egg quality (and learned some science that makes this seem less scary!), and took away some great tips without feeling like I need to be incredibly restrictive / paranoid about everything I consume or come in contact with.
August 16, 2019
One of the best books I’ve read on fertility, and I’ve read a lot. Fett is a master of distilling the findings from the scientific research of improving egg quality into easy to understand language, giving you all the information you need with no fluff or pseudo-science. She also gives specific actionable steps to take no matter where you are on your fertility journey so that you can personalize it for your needs- including the best dosage for supplements, and in some case the brands of supplements, that have been shown to yield the best results. I’d recommend this to any woman planning to get pregnant, but especially anyone who has been struggling to conceive. There’s so much information out there that often contradicts itself, and this feels like a guide to cut through all of it so you can focus on implementing changes that have the best chance of improving your results without driving yourself crazy.
April 6, 2021
I read this book about 6 months into our attempt to have a child and at the time the research Fett has done combined with the recommendations felt legitimate. I got the supplements recommended, changed my caffeine intake, switched as much of our kitchen stuff over from plastics, quit painting my nails and using conventional hair dye. I'm still don't have a child and none of the recommendations in this book are agreed on by my doctors except: take a prenatal, vitamin d, and limit yourself to one cup of coffee a day.
Maybe Fett's recommendations work for some people, but the reality is there is probably a lot of confirmation bias here. The book really only serves to make you feel bad about living a modern life and makes you worry about every day things most people never have to think about just because you're having trouble getting pregnant and they are not.
Maybe Fett's recommendations work for some people, but the reality is there is probably a lot of confirmation bias here. The book really only serves to make you feel bad about living a modern life and makes you worry about every day things most people never have to think about just because you're having trouble getting pregnant and they are not.
January 18, 2020
Hope for improving fertility after 35
I’ve read a number or excellent books on fertility and the female cycle and this is the first book that gave me hope about improving my fertility after 35. The information was excellent for both men and women with recommended supplement and dietary suggestions. Loved it and highly recommended for anyone experiencing any type of fertility challenges (and those just looking to safe-guard fertility for later years)!
I’ve read a number or excellent books on fertility and the female cycle and this is the first book that gave me hope about improving my fertility after 35. The information was excellent for both men and women with recommended supplement and dietary suggestions. Loved it and highly recommended for anyone experiencing any type of fertility challenges (and those just looking to safe-guard fertility for later years)!
July 7, 2022
Best book if struggling with fertility! SOOO informative. I read it twice and have used it as a resource since. Pregnant with our rainbow baby now ❤️
November 3, 2024
Very interesting.
August 3, 2023
Very scientific and informative read about achieving good egg quality. I appreciated all the research and information that was shared with readers on how to ensure good egg quality. A lot of easy life style changes were mentioned too!
September 28, 2018
This book includes the classical suggestions any GP and/or preconception book would give you if you are trying to conceive (take your preconception vitamins, eat healthy, go to the dentist and do a standard fertility check up if things go wrong). After sharing these ordinary midwives' suggestions, the author delves on some extra (and sometime very pricey) supplements (coenzyme Q10, DHEA, myo-inositol, ...) which either do not have enough scientific support to be included in the standard vitamin cocktail (e.g., coenzyme Q10) or are already suggested by fertility consultants when needed (e.g., DHEA).
In general, I found the tone quite patronising, and there is an annoying underlying idea that there are things "Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You" (as in the title of the first section of the book). However, when compared to other books of the same kind, this one has the plus of offering numerous (and hopefully not too cherry-picked) references to scientific literature.
In general, I found the tone quite patronising, and there is an annoying underlying idea that there are things "Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You" (as in the title of the first section of the book). However, when compared to other books of the same kind, this one has the plus of offering numerous (and hopefully not too cherry-picked) references to scientific literature.
January 7, 2018
This book changed my life! Generally it is well written and thorough. It explains so much that my doctor's never mentioned, and everything is backed by real science. Personally, I have textbook PCOS. I followed the recommendations for PCOS and after 30 days I ovulated naturally for the first time in 3.5 years! While this book is specifically about trying to conceive, I would recommend it for anyone just looking to control their PCOS, as multiple PCOS symptoms have improved since I've been following the recommendations.
October 30, 2024
Interesting read on improving fertility. Some of the advice is basic and well-known (like lifestyle changes and using clean household products), but I found the section on recommended supplements and dosages especially useful. As a FertilityCare and NaProTechnology practitioner, I wish more women knew that, in many cases, they can improve their fertility and conceive naturally rather than seeing IVF as their only option—because it’s not.
December 18, 2016
I rated this a 3 only because I've done extensive research as I've been TTC my first for over a year. I've had two missed miscarriages due to chromosomal abnormalities and two chemical pregnancies. I was hoping to read about something new to try as all my testing has been normal. I do think this book would be helpful for women who haven't done extensive research like myself. Lots of good topics.
July 16, 2025
This is an easy read and provides a lot of info for different stages of the fertility journey ( those trying to conceive naturally, those experiencing loss, and those using fertility treatments to conceive). This is actually a helpful book to read even before you start your journey. I was able to speed read or skim over chapters with topics I already knew the info or the info doesn’t apply to my journey. The conclusion sections are super helpful because it outlines everything you just read to make it easy to figure out exactly how much of a supplement you need or if that lifestyle change is even right for you. At the end of the day, the book outlines tips to be healthier in general that also increases your odds of a successful pregnancy.
March 8, 2023
I’m so grateful for this book and would suggest it as a must read for anyone who hopes to be pregnant in the future (I wish I had read it a few years ago) and has irregular cycles (especially PCOS). This book is purely practical and gives you actionable takeaways to help your fertility, mainly egg quality. In the U.S., fertility testing usually doesn’t begin until you’ve been trying for a year - this book allowed us to take action during the agonizing wait. I can’t say for sure if the recommendations from the book actually help, but it was a huge comfort to know that we had done everything we could to help before medical intervention. I had never heard of this book until someone posted about it on TikTok, so it is my mission to share it.
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